h-member-login

MANGAWHAI'S NO.1 NEWSPAPER  header call 
Melody sales@mangawhaifocus.co.nz 021454814
Nadia n.lewis@xtra.co.nz 021677978
Reporting: Julia news@mangawhaifocus.co.nz 0274641673
 Accounts: Richard info@mangawhaifocus.co.nz 021678358

 

Archives

Orca mother lost to the Mangawhai coast

 

photo 1-475A sad sight greeted an early morning Mangawhai beach walker on March 18, with the discovery of a dead Orca.

Whale rescue researcher and co-founder, Dr Ingrid Visser, says the 2-3 tonne female most likely drowned in the last 24 hours.

“The bruising around her lower jaw line and stomach suggest she was rolled around in the surf before hitting the beach,” Visser says.

The 18-20 year old whale was also lactating but Visser, an internationally acclaimed authority on Orcas, says the orphaned calf would be cared for by other members of the family. “They are very social and don’t normally abandon their young.”

A pod of Orcas was sighted off the coast of Waipu around 7am the same morning the dead whale was found.

“They possibly passed by here last night,” Visser says. “They would have called out to her but she might not have heard them due to the surf.”

The whale will receive a blessing from local Iwi and will be buried nearby.

On discovering a stranded whale or pod, people are advised to call Department of Conservation’s hotline 0800 DOC HOT or Whale Rescue 0800 SAVE WHALE

Photo

Dr Ingrid Visser inspects the deceased Orca. “I recognise her… their dorsal fins and eyepatches are like fingerprints and faces.”

Recent News reported this morning.

SeaWorld stated last night at 11pm New Zealand time,that they will stop captive breeding of Orcas. “A step in the right direction but still a lot more work to be done to free whales held in captivity,” Visser says.

Julia Wade

photo 2

ABOUT US
  CHECK IT OUT
The Mangawhai Focus is the only 'Mangawhai' community Newspaper and is the paper of choice within the local area.

For more information on distribution and circulation please 
click here
 

Directory

Archives

Contact Us


 

 

 

FOLLOW US

facebook   twitter   174855-378

CONTACT US


Sales: 021 454814
  sales@mangawhaifocus.co.nz
Editorial: 027 4641673
  news@mangawhaifocus.co.nz
Office: 021 678357
  info@mangawhaifocus.co.nz